Godhra Nursing student says he was stopped from taking exam because he had a beard

“The women examiners sitting outside the examination hall stopped me and said I am not eligible to appear for the exam because I have not shaved my beard. They just looked at me and stopped me. When I tried to make them understand that it is because of my religious binding I am not allowed to cut my beard, they did not accept it and said I need to get approval from the Gujarat Nursing Council (GNC),” Abu Bakr told The Indian Express.

The diploma student claimed that he faced a similar incident a year ago at the AMC-run Sheth LG General Hospital in Maninagar. “It was my last exam of the second year at Sheth LG General Hospital where I had to face a similar trauma. That time too my college authorities intervened and I was allowed to sit for the exam,” Bakr said.

GNC president Dr M M Prabhakar told The Indian Express, “There is no such rule or restriction by the Council (GNC)… You can wear a cap, hijab, or keep a beard. We have not issued any circular or order. I am not aware of these incidents but will look into the matter. GNC is the regulatory body that conducts the exams, he added.

The Shama General Nursing School in Danilimda is one among several educational institutes and health centres run by the Gujarat Sarvajanik Welfare Trust. Afzal Memon, chief functionary of the Trust, told The Indian Express, “We heard about the incident… a youth went to the exam centre but was not allowed because of his beard. The examination centres are selected by the GNM and the college has no role to play in it.”